On July 11, 2008, Walt Monegan was informed that he was being replaced as the Commissioner of Public Safety and was offered another position. He turned it down and the rest is history. Here are the e-mails I could find that had to do with this whole affair. I’m sure there are more, but this is what I turned up.
July 12 -
Kris Perry:
I spoke w/Mike, Walt did not accept the position. Sharon is working on a release for your review.
Sharon:
Mike- I talked with the Daily News tonight about Walt. Kyle was really pushing for specific reasons why Walt was let go. Apparently – Walt is telling reporters that he has all the respect for the Governor but is baffled as to why he was fired. I stuck to the company line but Kyle wanted more. He asked me to ask you for more details. I told him I would but didn’t expect to get in touch with you tonight.
Mike Nizich:
So much for him not wanting to embarrass the Governor. Its so extremely apparent that it’s all about Walt. He doesn’t care how this affects her in the least. He’s unfortunately doing the same thing he did when Begich let him go, right to the press.
I have heard from a few folks regarding his email that he sent the cabinet and the feeling is that no matter the situation and the reason for him being replacement his statement to the rest about not having access and don’t let it happen to you was so inappropriate, folks have taken offense to his statements.
Palin:
I haven’t seen his memo to the cabinet and at this point I don’t even want to. If his intention is to make it public then I am extremely disappointed in his action – especially when he’d been offered a more appropriate job assignment so he could help serve the state in a different capacity.
Tara Jollie:
I read what is on the ADL webpage. I think Sharon’s response so far is good. I expect to get calls come Monday from the rural caucus and stakeholders in Rural Alaska and probably big native corps like AFN, CIRI, all the BB’s, Pribilofs, Interior and Northwest.
My stance is that it is not unusual for an Administration to change people out as the Governor sees appropriate to meet her goals for Alaska. Let me know if I need to say something different.
Palin:
I wish he’d taken the offer to better serve the state by better utilizing his talents and connections with rural Alaska by accepting the ABC Board Ex Dir position- that way he’d be able to concentrate on bootlegging and the horrendous problems caused by alcohol in our rural communities. He’s chosen not to accept that role in state service, but instead to exit state service entirely.
It’s a personnel matter, though Tara, so despite what he may say to the public … it’s a personnel matter and no need to comment. I’ll ask Mike to chime in if further comment for you to relay is necessary. Thanks!
Tara:
I understand that. Sometimes one’s ego or pride gets in the way of the higher mission, like going from Commissioner to Director and the impression that it is a demotion. In that case, it is about the person and not the mission.
As part of your administration, I say we must keep our eye on the ball and do whafs best for Alaskans. I don’t want this situation to affect the vote on the energy bill. I want to stay focused on the gas line and Alaska’s future economy! If I can help, let me know. I just know Kookesh will be calling me first thing Monday morning.
Palin:
Thank you Tara. I wish, too, he wouldn’t have interpretted this as a “demotion” offer.
July 13 -
Palin to pretty much everyone:
We’re replacing Walt with Chuck Kopp from Kenai. It’s all good. Except. we asked Walt to move to the ABC Board Ex Dir position so he could utilize his talents and connections with Rural Ak and help address the bootlegging problem (leading to horrendous other problems) in our villages ••. he said no to that offer. Chuck starts on Monday.
Joe Schmidt:
Thanks Governor,
I hope Walt can exit gracefully. I worked with Chuck on the Police Standards Counsel, and he seems like a well spoken, proffessional guy. Once announcements are made, I’ll call him and offer support and welcome him aboard. Your recent example of supporting “clean-up” and ethics within public safety is loud and clear in the public, so he should have no problem moving the right way. thanx for the heads up, talk to you later.
Randy:
Governor:
I am really looking forward to working with Chuck and accomplishing some priorities. With Chuck’s leadership, I think we can get more done in the area of public safety this next session than we have in the last two.
I will be in Anchorage on the 17th and would like to spend as much time as possible with him reviewing issues and personnel. He should also meet with Commissioner Kreitzer right away as she has ideas on how to change some existing DPS policies that impede recruiting. They also need to coordinate on all the staffing studies, etc., Audie Holloway has been working on. I will talk to her about this tomorrow and see if she is also available on the 17th. .
I am also working on a draft press release I announcement for Sharon to review on his hiring and will mention a few specific areas that he will be focusing on right away. I will coordinate with her and Mike Nizich today. I will cc: it to you for review. Thanks.
Let’s pause for some comic relief before we dive into a months-long fiasco about nothing.
Talis Colberg ran a marathon:
Thank you. Mike Nizich and frank Bailey had filled me in. [on Walt and Kopp]
Do not look at the talkeetna moose dropping 5k results. Must be a typo on my time.
Palin:
Under48?!!!
I was thinking 10k.
So was your time under 18?!
Talis:
I don’t want talk about it.
Palin:
At least you’re out there. I drag my gasping lungs out on the trails maybe twice a week lately – and that’s a good week.
I admire you! And still look forward to your completion of the ’09 Mayors Marathon.
Talis:
My sights are set on the 09 marathon as per instructions.
And back into the fray…
Nizich:
I talked to Rhonda this morning. She had only gotten Walt’s perspective on things. I talked to her about being positive and that we were disappointed that he did not want to consider the other position that he could have really excelled in. Anyway she seems ok with the conversation and was appreciative that I called her.
The papers this morning and last night just indicated that Walt thought it was wrong he was let go and that the voice of support came from the union …… The article I don’t think was damaging at all and at least the reporter did his homework and found out there was a similar situation that happened at the Muni. So I think after a couple of days worth it will be over. Time to move on.
Hope you guys got some sleep last night.
Heh. Yeah, right.
July 16 -
Palin:
Fyi- and I’ve tried twice now to reach Walt, including on the 14th and again today. No answer. (Maybe he has caller ID and he is not choosing to hear from me? My question would be short and sweet: “Just want to hear it straight from you, why’d you choose to turn down ABC position to help serve rural AK?”
July 17 -
Randy Ruaro:
I’ll be in Anchorage today and tomorrow meeting with Chuck Kopp to discuss steps we can take on crime in rural Alaska and improving recruiting etc.
There are several things Walt didn’t really seem to work hard on or want to do, like recruiting from returning National Guard and military, or finding Ways to improve our local option laws and cracking down on bootlegging that could be helpful. I will pass these ideas on to Chuck and mention the recruiting ideas to Joe Schmidt for DOC to consider.
Palin:
Great. And hopefully I’ll see you today in between our events and issues. Great for you to work w Kopp on natl guardsmen/women and those local bootlegging laws. Thank you.
You know, that’s something Kopp could come right out of the shoot with, even in a presser: filling the long-vacant positions w efforts to recruit our returning military personnel. Lots of these soldiers don’t know what to do next as their deployments conclude… we may need them.
Pls mention this to him, that we need very vocal and visual DPS initiatives rolled out for Alaskans so they’ll know the purpose in all this transition is for action in serving the public.
Rolling out such a promise, Sharon and Rosanne could help because we got a good supportive statement from Col. Holloway re: Kopp and “moving forward”… we could incorporate that statement with anyfrom Gen.Campbell also. (So not just Natl Guard, but military in general..)
Some guy named Phil:
Ivy,
I am sending this in momentarily.
One important job for governor is the appointment of a cabinet. Surrounding yourself with good peoplewith a common visionisn’t alwayseasy. The Governor’s Decision to appoint Commissioner Kopp is the right decision and it’s her decision. No one likes to get fired or do the firing. I’m certain that it would have been much easier to stick with “what’s been working,” or stick with the status quo.
In all of this, Commissioner Monegan was given a respectful alternative. He chose to get publically upset. It takes a smart leader to understand and communicate a common vision for Alaska. It takes a tough leader to act on that vision. Governor Palin also keenlyunderstands that inaction rarely leads to growth or improvement.
She is trying to make our govemment more transparent and efficient by taking some action. Those who call for an ‘explanation” to this chang eought to know that discussing personnel decisions can unnecessarily compromise laws and reputations. I imagine it would have been much easier for the Govemor to work within established burocratic norms by retaining CommissionerMonegan.
I look forward to a leaner and stronger public safety sector under new direction. To a man who came up from the ranks, good luck in your new position Commissioner Kopp.
Phil Schneider
Frank responds:
Buddy you are just awesome. Thanks for always being willing to speak up in these situations.
Thanks so much Phil!!
I’m not getting the “oh, I feel so guilty for being the Governor’s hatchet man” vibe off of Frank. Weird.
Palin:
As confirmed in Molly’s attorney file (Bobby Irwin), there have been NO complaints filed by the Heath or Palin family. Jason Moore stated we filed IS· complaints and only three were substantiated. KTVA claimed we filed 36 complaints! And John Cyr stumbled on that question with dead silence when he was asked about it ..
There have been no formal complaints. If Walt tries to go there, my response is “nice try”, he can try to deflect from the reasons he was let go by blaming it on the Wooten issue, but he knows it’s not true and perhaps he doesn’t want a public discussion about his administrative skills being made public.
Palin:
How many vacant trooper positions remain, still 50?
Randy:
As of June 30, 2008, the payroll system showed 56 of these positions as vacant. (49 trooper positions, 2 corporal positions, 1·sergeant, 3 lieutenants, and 1 captain) The OMS analyst noted the numbers would change if there were new hires or retirements that had not had their paperwork processed yet through Personnel.
Palin:
Proof that today’s PSEA/Wooten presser had nothing to do with Walt’s dismissal: on sunday, Wooten refused to follow court order to hand the kids over to Molly after his visitation. One of Wooten’s sergeants had to call him and tell him he must obey the court order.
He handed over the kids and promised Molly, “Get ready for a show. I’m going to bring you and your family down”. From there he riled up the union and then had the press conf. I just found this out tonight.
July 18 -
Palin:
Who talked to Hawker and told him that we would not answer his questions about walt? His quotes on the news were brutal.
Kelly Goode:
Hawker contacted our office and we kindly let him know that this was a personnel issue and we did not have any additional info. This was discussed with Nizich as well.
If we do decide to tell Legislators more now we should proably bring in Talis for legal guidance.
Palin:
We did not cut dps budget- if there were cuts, were they not made by leggies, as I have been told? Ktva reported that Admin cut the bUdget and has hurt troopers with our cuts. This needs to be corrected asap, Andrea Gustry was the reporter- theier story re-runs at 10pm. Pls let me know who’s correcting it.
Sharon Leighow:
I spoke to Mike Ross a few minutes ago. He wanted to confirm what I had told Channel 2 earlier that no one from the administration pressured Monegan about Wooten. He specifically asked about Frank and Annette. Walt is going to name them on the 10.
I told him that I would go on camera or at least do a phoner. I also offered up Frank and Annette. He said it was too late in the editing process and they will uise your clips. I have tried unsuccessfully. all night to reach Annette. I talked with her husband, left message with Rachael and called her hotel – no luck. .
I made it quite clear that Walt’s accusations were total CRAP.
Palin:
Thank u. But I don’t know why ktuu and ktva are totally ignoring the facts and are not believing us in the least. How can Ross claim it’s “too late” for addl statments by us? That’s unheard of.
Also, Todd said adn had dates and facts very screwed up also, he did the best he could to correct Holland. The ktva correction on the dps budget should be made asap.
Frank Bailey:
Here’s the statement I sent. Sharon sent to Ross and Baldino. I’ve talked to her 4 times and they won’t accept a new statement, saying 10pm is already set and only a continuation of the 6pm …. saying the story is set:
I absolutely cannot remember a single instance where I contacted Walt Monegan over Trooper Wooten. The report I saw tonight claiming otherwise is false. I’ve only had a handful of conversations with the Former Commissioner, and discussing Wooten has never peen part of those conversations.
Palin:
I am very sorry they will not accept more info or statements. It’s unheard of. Maybe u could forward to Meg and get some insight into this, and ktva’s screwed up “she cut dps budget” blunder, and security detail Wooten comment by Jason, etc.
Frank:
I’ll get with her. This is sick and wrong.
Palin:
Frank: this is evil, isn’t it? Walt lied that you pressured him. This is sick and out of control. He lied about Annette and Todd also.
Frank:
makes me absolutely sick to my stomach that I supported Walt in becoming Commissioner.
Palin to others as well:
Again, he showed his true colors. How were any of us to know…
Oh the irony.
Randy:
Governor:
I had a very good meeting with Commissioner Kopp and Commissioner Kreitzer today. Theyare going to work together on some steps they can take fairly quickly to help with recruiting and an issue with implementing VOIP phones at DPS that Walt was not helping resolve. (DPS is the only state agency resisting the VOIP phones) If we can get the issue fixed, we can probably avoid significant costs for ADMIN. We talked about a number of other issues as well.
Basically, we made more progress in one hour with Commissioner Kopp on DPS issues than we were able to make with Walt in months.
Palin:
Thank you so much. I had a good conversation with Kopp tonight- but for the life of me I will never understand how this has become the most clustered issue in my two-yr-old administration. Walt has shown his true colors- very sad and disappointing, and unacceptable if he misleads the public at all on any aspect of any of this… as he already has with his false allegations that Frank, Annette, Todd et al met with him and pressured him. False.
Palin to Nizich:
Did it take walt a couple of days to decide he wouldn’t take the other job?
Nizich:
He emailed me Saturday late morning indicating he did not want the job after his message to the cabinet
Frank:
Mike can verify, but my understanding is he wanted to consider the other option for a couple of days, thru Sunday. Instead he sent off his letter to the commissioner’s the very next Sat morning.
Palin:
He didn’t get back to us until the day after that even though?
Nizich:
Next day. I talked to him on Friday, he replied to my email about his decision to take the job on Saturday approximately around 11:30 to noon.
July 19 -
Palin in response to something about needing to speak out after so many accusations:
As Meg said, we need more, not less, info given to public
Ivy Frye:
News was good tonight. They talked about the new direction of the dept, annette having no idea what monegan was talking about, frank’s disappointment in walt and that he was aware of the threats of wooten, and molly’s statement that she had to call 911 last wk and wooten’s threat the family was going down. By the way, the press release was great. It infers everything that wasn’t being done under the previous commissioner.
Palin:
Janice-pls look on sched to see if I met with Walt in Februrary, on Hoffman”s birthday. Walt claims I walked with him to wish Hoffman happy bday- and supposedly talked about Wooten On that walk (evidently “pressuring” him?)
Kris Perry:
I just spoke to Janice. She doesn’t recall that specifically but she will find out.
Palin:
She wouldn’t remember specifically bc those were slammed days, so hopefully she does find out via her records. My calander is empty for those legislative months and I need to know why it is an empty record now. Would you ask Russ if he remembers who I visited hoffman with?
Later in the day:
Reading the comment in ADN today is disturbing re: “refusal” to speak about Walt, even if leggies ask.
1) I am not hesitant to speak, but have tried to respect Walt’s assumed desire for zero public scrutiny (but look where that’s getting us), thus we’ve left it with a general message of the change at DPS. That must be better explained.
I’d stand up in a second and explain his dismissal if my explanations thus far are not sufficient (ie, recruitment, bootlegging that Walt could have focused on with his new job offer he turned down, more energy and action needed in DPS half-way through the term bc there’s not a lot of time left to make a difference, etc). My belief has been that Walt would NOT have wanted me to talk pUblicly about his dismissal.
2) We can never say we’d not talk about this, “no matter who asks”. If leggies ask via an investigation, of course we speak. In fact, if leggies ask via any venue, of course we speak and give them the reasons. Walt obviously doesn’t mind the public discussion at this point, and his untruths must be countered at the same time. This is imperative or Kopp will NOT have the support of the dept and will NOT be given the opportunity to succeed as commissioner.
So this perception needs to be cleared up asap – I do not fear any investigation – but it would be used as a distraction, obviously, and is not needed if we’re just given the opportunity to lay to rest any speculation spurred by leggies, Walt, the union, critics, or whomever is stirring this.
I do appreciate the adn reported the fact that we INCREASED dps budget- leggies cut it (glad they got that right finally!), as opposed to the union leadership on ktva last night insisting that we cut their bUdget $2.5 million, and the reporter not challeneging that at all!
I am happy to more publicly address all of this bc it would run counter to “open govt” now that Walt has spoken untruthfully about the Wooten issue (esp claims that Todd met w him more than once, Annette’s and Frank’s alleged meetings, my alleged February discussion with Walt, all of our “pressure”, etc.)
And again:
It’s imperative that we speak to Alaskans’ questions today re: DPS. Please trust me that the best path forward, in fairness to the public and consistent with an open government without anything to hide, is for me to be freed up to speak – especially now that Walt has chosen to speak erroneously about his dismissal.
Sharon, instead of staffing the picnic today, please cont to work with Randy, Annette, Karen, Mike, and others, on contacting press/public with messaging that proves I have nothing to hide; proves the legitimate reasons for the need to go in a better direction w DPS; proves this had nothing to do with Wooten, etc.
I desire to speak to the public on this. I’ve never gone the “no comment” route before and I won’t do it now. Again, circumstances have changed in the way this issue is to be handled because our assumption that Walt would not like public discussion of his leadership was wrong, he’s obviously chosen to publicly air (through the union, evidently) his false allegations.
Also; law makers are insistent in hearing more. No fear of their proposed investigation, but I’d rather save them time and resources and go directly to them and the public on a much more transparent path re: this issue.
Sharon- pls let reporters know (assuming they show up at the Anchorage picnic as they did at the Wasilla picnic) that I desire to speak for myself on this issue and, again, have nothing to hide.
Randy and Karen are working on summary re: budget increases we proposed (versus dps claim last night that WE cut it so drastically that troopers won’t be paid their overtime); vacant positionsw no action to recruit; battle over the word “integrity” we desired in his contract negotiations that he did not want included (Annette- pIs provide more details on that for Randy); false allegations that I or anyone else pressured him to fire Wooten (even falsely accusing folks of even discussing the issue with him); etc, including many other issues.
Please let me know where folks are able to contribute in this effort. Randy and Mike will be centerpoint on this today as I’m meetin’ and greetin’ Alaskans at the picnic. They’ll be working with Sharon to allow me more pro-active contact with the media today on this.
Also- Kelly, we’re more than happy to speak with Hollis on this, he seems to be the spokesperson for leggies on this.
Ivy:
I vouch completely for his resistance in tightening up article 7 of psea contract (dealing w disciplinary measures and tightening the integrity clause). I also witnessed him coming by to talk to annette about psea in closed door mtgs. Afterwards she said she had to tell him to stay out of it and let him know she couldn’t talk to him about the contract-that it was between the state’s negotiating team and the union’s negotiating team.
Molly to Sarah:
On Monday night, at approximately 8:00pm, Mike Wooten said to me, “Get ready for the show! You and your family are going down! Get ready for the show!”
Palin forwards to her people and adds:
This answers some of the timing issue with Wooten and the union:
Joe Schmidt:
Good Morning,
Any way I can help. The story seems to be about a dirty cop who should have been fired. The public will see this because the Union is speaking out and obviously orchestrating and attack in support of walt. DOC just cleane-dup the CO ranks and I have numbers to back it up. Calendar year 07 we did 54 investigations, 26 of which resulted in discipline and 4 ended in firings. 7 others quit.
So far this year, we have had 2, none involving workplace misconduct, no one fired. The Union may not likeme, butwe’re clean. We pushed recruitment and filled all of the 737 CO positions, and the Gov’s request (approved by legislature) for thisyear is 786. Increases like no other time in our history. I lost a great deal of respect this morning, I think you all know what I mean. thanx
July 20 -
Someone calling themselves “Anonymous Trooper” emailed the Governor’s office:
I’m sorry for the scandal and misdirection that has embattled your administration this week and distracted you and your staff. I am an Alaska State Trooper, but wish to remain anonymous. I hope you’ll permit this and not release this to anyone outside your administration. As I see the problems that our Department of Public Safety faces, I have a few comments I’d like to make.
I) Wooten should have been fired a long time ago. I worked with Mike and he never had the integrity required to be part ofthe Alaska State Troopers. He should have been fired for performance reasons alone, as he was without exception one of the laziest Troops in B detachment.
[...]
Show public support for your Troops. They work hard for you, and we’re really a good bunch of guys and girls. One bad Trooper and an unwieldy discipline system that didn’t fire him means that some changes need to be made, but the rest of us really care about doing the right thing, the right way, for the right reasons. Mike Wooten is the exception, but with the perception that you bear enmity toward all Troopers, they will undoubtedly suffer another hit to their morale, something that could be devastating at this time.
I read every page of the published Wooten AI file and it made my blood boil, becauseI’m now looked at with the same disdain by the public as MikeWooten is; I wear the same uniform. I’m mostly powerless in making positive changes in this uncertain environment, so I look to you to make a difference here. Please listen.
It’s anonymous. Take it or leave it.
July 21 -
Palin:
There is still the misperception out there in the press that my sister is going through divorce proceedings and/or a custody battle. Not true-it’s all been concluded..• they’ve been divorced for some time now and the jUdge sided with Molly in the custody battle. (It’s all the more reason to ask why I’d fire Walt for reasons pertaining to Wooten’s personal life when it’s impossible to fathom any reason to meddle is a closed case and potentially do harm to the party I allegedly sided with?)
Another misperception by reporters is that the concerns over Wooten were recent, and were recently brought to Walt’s attention (while I was governor).
The concerns were outlined back in ’05. I reminded Walt of them IN ANSWER TO HIS QUESTIONS about my need for security detail (as all governors are asked) … and the conversation with Walt was at the behest of the security detail personnel who asked that I share my safety concerns re: Wooten’s outrageous threats with the DPS commissioner. I complied with their request, as did Todd (Bob Cockerall ahd asked Todd to bring to Walt’s attention the concerns). This all happened early on.
Later in the day:
Advertise as AGIA avail please. (We won’t refuse other questions, of course tho, pls tell McA. Also pls forward him that last email about clarifying that my sister is NOT going through custody battle as keeps getting reported. There must be a correction on that so a more realistic context is put on this issue)
Randy:
Governor: Just a few quick points:
Alcohol Issues.
Lauren Rice is incorrect when she says that the idea for legislation establishing mandatory minimum sentences for bootleggers originated with the troopers. It originated with me and arose out of a case I was aware of where a bootlegger got sentenced to only 160 hours of community workservice after bootlegging into a damp or dry community.
On recruiting, after we met in Juneau in February with the Veterans Advisory Council, a member of the Council, a fellow by the name of Johnny Guinn from Bethel said he had 150 national guardsman returning to Bethel soon and many needed jobs. I believe I spoke with you about a “troops to troopers” recruiting program at that time starting with these national guardsman, and that you asked me to get this moving through Walt.
To my memory, I asked Walt to follow up specifically with this group of guardsman and to establish a formal troops to troopers program. I recall asking Walt about this later and I believe he said oh, we already do some recruiting with the military. In my opinion, we had asked him to come up with a new formal program with a focus on returning rural Alaskan guardsman.
Palin:
Thank you Randy.Yes, the surprises that would hit after discussions w/me, you, COS, etc (some that landed on the legislative floor) were especially perplexing. Lauren’s recall of some of these issues has now been cleared up in my mind, being reminded by you now of the true sequence of events.
Randy:
Note. I do not think the draft staffing studies and recruitment studies Walt mentions were ever completed. I don’t recall ever seeing them. The draft report for 2007 was provided but nothing else to my knowledge.
July 22 -
Palin:
Rosanne- I understand adn contacted you re: the number of meetings I’ve had w Walt, and his claim that it was only four. I hope you reminded them of every cabinet meeting, every reception, every trip, phone call and face-to-face thatI had with Walt. There will be many, manyinstances to cite.
Again, Walt will be proven to be less than truthful with this latest claim. Also notable is all the mtgs/ conversations he had with COS, Dep COS, Special Assistants, etc. And the fact he wasNEVER refused any request to meet with anyof us. He met with other staffers and fellow commissioners and AG, also, in “communications” with me.
Hopefully all that’s noted beforeshefilesber story. And pls pass on to Bill McA. What’s bill’s email addy? Janice- pls look through sched to prove these points. Thanks
Palin to Janice:
J- did the addendum get run by you re: scheduled trips taken w Walt? (Bethel, New Stu, Dillingha. The New Stu again)
Janice:
Yes – I am also going through months from July 07 – present that I have. I will need to verify that Walt was present at the cabinet meetings in the morning.
Palin:
I can’t think of any cabinet meeting he missed, tho he did travel outside a lot.
Kris Perry:
He was a regular attendee, and those he was outside for he called in for.
They went round and round again drafting a statement answering Walt’s implication that he’d only had access to the Gov about four times in 17 months. But apparently, on top of everything else, the email system was lagging.
Kris Perry:
I’m seriously about ready to lose it.
I have been on the phone for two hrs solid tonight on this alone. It’s ridiculus.
While the emails are coming in non-stop, there are obvious major lags on top of everything else.
Palin:
I apologize. But I was not made aware of the issue until about a half an hour ago.
Kris:
Sorry, my frustration wasn’t directed at you.
I’ll spare you the string of emails as they tried to get a hold of the newsroom and no one answered, etc… Let’s just say it was a major pain. Apparently they finally got a hold of someone.
Palin:
I just talked to holland’ on phone, essentially quoted Meg’s statement and incorporated randy’s points – she says she’ll try to get it on line… pray that it goes in the paper too (she doubted that) she was shocked to hear of cabinet meetings, three trips sitting by him to rural communities, etc.
He insists it was four times in 17 months. I restated that I and cos, dep cos and sp assist Randy also spoke with him about direction we wanted to gow recruits, alcohol, etc .. RESULTS/ACTION not just “plans”.
July 23 -
Sharon Leighow:
I don’t think I have ever heard a more one-sided story on Channel 2. Bill, why on the world would they play a bite from Wooten and have no counter? Am I missing something???
Palin:
You are kidding me.
Palin:
Todd- it occurred to me that the press has not understood Security Detail telling you to share First Family safety concerns with DPS boss… but then also Walt’s follow-up instruction to bring forth any additional info. Wonder why the suggestion seems to be it was improper to speak to Walt about safety concerns when it was public safety officials (Walt himself!) asking that additional info be shared w him if there was any.
Palin:
So that Molly doesn’t have to contact adn editors to correct them and then be inundated with questions, pIs jot them a correction: she is NOT going through a divorce or custody battle. It’s been over, with the judge siding with her.
Also, fyi … I shall be meeting with kopp to more fully understand the situation we discussed yesterday. I will not compromise on the commitment to open, honest communication - and am disturbed to read a reporter’s interpretation of his circumstances that seem to have been made clearer yesterday. I won’t rely on press to get to the bottom of all this so I”ll be talking to kopp again.
Mike-im going running – i’ll be in after that, sign bills, leave on the noon flt. good luck mtg w Hollis.
July 26 -
Randy:
While recent focus at DPS has been on personnel issues, there remain several items I would like to remind the Acting Commissionerwe need to continue working on.
FINISH CRIME LAB LEASE
Finally finishing up lease negotiations for the land that will be the site of the new crime lab. This has been stuck for months with DPS and the muni.
NEW LEGISLATION ON ALCOHOL
[...]
Initially, this bill would contain 2 ideas we did not get through last year and 3 new ones. The proposals we did not get last yearwere:
(a) civil fines for atcohol license holders when their clerk ssell to minors and
(b) no shipping alcohol to the bush in plastic bottles (bootleggers like to burp the air out of the plastic bottles so the bottles do not slosh and plastic bottles do not clank like glass against anything) (This was a recommendation of a joint federal-state task force on rural justice and was supported by prior troopers but Walt had Major Glick testify against our proposals in committee for reasons that are still unclear to me).
July 27 -
Sharon Leighow forwards a reporter’s question to the Gov. Here is the question:
Sharon: The past several days we have been going through a U the matelials in the Wooten investigative files.We came across something in the 9/14/05 interview of Wooten… that we want to ask the governor about.
On page 11of that transcript, when Wooten is being questioned about the moose hunting incident, Wooten asserts that Chuck Heath had said he would use Molly’s moose tag to take a moose if she didn’t do it herself.
Wall presses Wooten on that point:
Wooten: He was going to take her tag and go fill her tag. With our without ah regardless of whether she went or ROt he was gonna go shoot a moose. Period.
Wall: Did he tell that to MOLLYor you?
Wooten: Me. And MOLLYwas there too she heard it. He does it every year. He does it with Sally’s caribou tag. Sarah’s caribou tag and…
The union representative interrupts at that point and they don’t come back to it. It’s my understanding that Gov. Palin received several Nelchina Tier II permits. Did Chuck Heath ever take caribou using one or more of her permits as Trooper Wooten seems to be saying here to the investigator?
To the governor’s knowledge, did Mr. Heath use Sally’s permits as described by Wooten? To her knowledge did he take moose or caribou on Molly’s permits, as Wooten is saying? Am I misreading what Wooten is saying here?
Sharon to Todd, Mike Nizich, and the Gov:
Guys,
Please make five minutes to talk with Steve Quinn about Monegan. He is not going to hit you up with hard questions. Todd- He would like to know about the threats make by Wooten. Nizich He would like to know if you outlined why Monegan was being dismissed – not getting into specifics, Any questions? Call me. Thanks all
Palin:
Guys- yes, please do.
Yep, that transcript sounds like something Wooten would say.
He claims Chuck Heath was going to’ take Molly’s tag and shoot a moose with it? Not true. I recall that Chuck Heath was offering to take Molly hunting since the season was coming to a close and Wooten had still not taken the time to take her hunting so she could fill the tag. Chuck Heath wasn’t going to “shoot a moose, period”, as Wooten claims.
And after the hunt Wooten told Chuck Heath that Molly DID shoot that moose, which wasn’t true. As WPD officer Chris Watchus testified (he was the hunting partner in the boat as Wooten illegally shot the animal from a motorized vehicle, which is also illegal), Wooten did not give Molly a chance to shoot it before he fired.
Afterwards, Wooten threatened Molly that she’d better not tell anyone, but people eventually found out about it after Wooten bragged about the hunt.
Yes, I’ve received Tier 2 permits and I have filled my tags, with friends and family witnessing the hunts. It appears from the transcript that Wooten states to his fellow union member/internal investigator re: Chuck Heath ” .•. He does it every year (with) Sarah’s caribou tag.” Not true.
And Wooten has NEVER hunted with me, and except for his illegal moose hunt in question he has never hunted moose or caribou with family, so his accusation that Chuck Heath takes caribou on my, or others, permits every year is not based on fact.
Citizen to Gov:
Hi,
I have been thinking of you and praying for you. I don’t know what REALLY happened with the DPS Comm job. I know you can never be sure about what you read in the paper. I do want to encourage you though. This is just my opinion (and a little bit of Biblical wisdom mixed in) based on hard lessons I have learned in life.
IF you did fire WM in part or in whole because of the brother in law, just admit it and make it right. Hire him back if that makes sense and even if it doesn’t, just say that you are sorry you let personal feelings get in the way and move on.
People will forgive you, especially if you admit you made a mistake, quicker than if an investigation shows the same without your admission. I am not sending this to anyone else and I hope you are not offended but I want you to know that even if you did make a mistake, we all stand ready to get past it.
You have high enough approval ratings that this will just be a little bump in the road if you admit to any mistake quicker than if you don’t, assuming you did make a mistake. Again, I am just going on what I read in the papers.
Respectfully,
Debbie Joslin
Palin:
Hi Debbie:
I hope you’ll trust me that I’d be the first to admit if l made a mistake two weeks ago in offering Walt a different job aside from Commissioner. Replacing him (as has happened in Walt’s last two jobs) had absolutely nothing to do with problems from 2005 with a former brother-in-law.
I never asked, nor pressured Walt in any way to fire Trooper Wooten, as he admitted to reporters once he realized the suggestion had been made. When first elected, my security detail asked that I forward on concerns to Walt about the one and only threat I’ve known of against me and my family (that was Wooten’s). It was appropriate that I did so.
I have no regrets in forwarding the concerns to him, as any citizen would do. No personal feelings ever influenced my recognition that DPS needed a lot more action and results in dealing with some horrendous activities in rural AK, and needed action to fill the dozens of vacant trooper positions that have sat empty for more than two years now.
Thanks, and hope ypu have a great Sunday.
Frank:
Thanks for sending. Nice response.
Les Gara called me about Court of Appeals late Friday and asked if Walt could be brought back as well, that this would take the wind out of the sails of the investigation. I’m passing it on to you as I told him I would. I didn’t give any sense on Walt, and asked him about AGIA. I can’t see how on earth that could tum out well in the end.
On AGIA he did say you could get the votes but that it would probably take individual visits to Senators. Media was a LOT tamer then I expected today. Was surprised there was no Halcro column as we had heard there would be. Sean got beat up pretty good by Dan, but other than that it was a decent day for the Admin.
July 28 -
Palin:
Also, feedback over the weekend was that this issue of me supposedly “firing Walt for personal/personnel reasons” has taken on a life of its own. Frustration over not just being able to sit down with reporters and repeat the truth, and/or get the message directly to Alaskans about the whole issue was shared with me by many. Amazing how the misperceptions have really grown legs and now people (incl legislators) are running with them.
We need to do all we can to get the truth out, I would hope the press would be fair in giving me opportunity to speak to the issue. This controversy – and Senate’s rumored investigation – is suspiciously overshadowing AGIA and Energy work- please help get that back on track but also help me get truth out surrounding the desire to move Walt to a different position so DPS could see action leading to results, versus merely talking about crafting more plans to deal with public safety challenges.
Between the FOIA’s last week (and the public still doesn’t understand it’s been a ConocoPhillips employee FOIA-ing emails) and Walt’s stirred-up controversy, the whole AGIA issue was overshadowed and attention shifted from that to other things. Please assist me in helping Alaskans realize the importance of the pending legislation on the lawmakers’ plates today. Thanks
Ivy:
Sorry I’m late tonight! Although always unscientific, there’s a very important KTUU poll tonight. The question asks will the investigation into the Monegan termination ftnd wrongdoing on the part of Governor Palin? We are currently in the lead with 55% saying no.
Frank said it best today~-we’re stuck in a microcosim of negativity. Alaskans support you, governor. I saw your momma tonight. We’re all praying for your continued wisdom and leadership. Hope JNU is going welL
Palin:
Thanks ivy. Did u give this poll to Chuck, Heather, Molly, Sal?
Ivy:
Yep. The whole fam … and bree and will
July 29 -
Palin:
S- does ktuu know that the wooten divorce was quite awhile ago … despite their insistence every time they- report on this that “she fired monegan while the trooper was going through a divorce with her sister”?
Sheeesh, they haven’t gotten it right yet. And even their forgetfulness that we offered WM another job to better utilize his strengths… it’s just so frustrating that they’re playing right into lyda and hollis’ hands., and vice versa.
I prefer speaking to these reporters who want comments on the issue. I invite the investigation but it’s obvious we could get to the bottom of it all if leggies and reporters would just ASK me further questions instead of spending $1009 on a fishing expedition.
Sharon- remember that I do desire to speak with reporters instead of seeing (like this morning) that I was “unavailable for comment”. I was on the flight for only 1.5 hrs so people know I could have spoken to Wesley before or after the fIt, had I known he had called, thus the false assumption will be that I again avoided press. PIs let me know when reporters calIon this so I can respond thanks.
Also, there can’t be any suggestion that I hesitate re: their investigation. The critics would love to believe I don’t want want one so they can continue to untruthfully claim that I’m hiding something.
And I do applogize if I sound frustated w this one. I guess I am. Its killing me to realize how misinformed leggies, reporters and others are on this issue. The accusations and false assumptions are mind boggling.
July 30 -
Michael Barnhill:
As you know, yesterday the legislative council authorized the commencement of an investigation regarding the termination of Commissioner Walt Monegan.
At the request of the Office of the Governor, the Department of Lawwill coordinate the response to the legislature’s investigation.
Effective immediately and until further notice from the Department of Law, you are instructed to preserve any and all documents in your possession or control, regardless of location, related to the subject of the legislature’s investigation.
“Documents” includes all correspondence, e-mails, notes, electronic data or communications of any kind, paper communications of any kind, memoranda, reports, spreadsheets, recordings of any kind, and drafts. Please contact me immediately if youhave any questions regarding this instruction. I will be contacting you soon to discuss collection of the relevant documents.
August 1 -
Palin:
Just got another call about Mrs. Blachflower having retired after working FOR Walt at APD and the conflict involved there.
August 6 -
PDF from Branchflower.
Mike Nizich:
It is a laundry list of things he wants. Emails, files, correspondence, names and addresses of any and all staff that would have any knowledge of waifs firing. Logs, summaries, phone messages and on and on.
He wants all this by Aug 13th. Again we have not laid out any game rules yet and he is setting timelines on us now. You got to be kidding me…..
Palin:
Geez. This is crazy.
August 13 -
Palin:
M- would you get a copy of Walt’s email that he sent to the Cabinet the day he decided to turn down the ABC Board job offer.
August 14 -
Kyle Hopkins (reporter):
Sharon: checking:
Molly and Wooten are still in a custody dispute/battle. It’s not over, in other words. Fair to say the Governor believes the tape of Frank Bailey does not prove the administration was trying to pressure Monegan or DPSto get rid of Wooten. (I’m confidant in this based on our talk this morning, but just trying to double check)
Sharon to Palin:
Governor – Is Molly still in a custody battle wI Wooten or is that past tense? I know the divorce is over.
Palin:
Past tense. She has the majority – she won that.
August 18 -
Palin:
In it, didn’t Jason Moore (or another reporter) ask if I was aware of “any of these Calls putting pressure on to fire Wooten”?
And my response was “no, I wasn’t aware (of any “pressuring Monegan-type” calls)”. Is the media now reporting that incorrectly – claiming I’m inconsistent or unbelivable because I HAD to have known?
I still don’t believe there were ANY Monegan-pressured calls and the closest to that would have been Bailey’s tape (but it wasn’t to Monegan), or Todd’s inquiry (but that wasn’t “pressure” on Monegan-it was following Law’s website instruction to bring trooper concerns and complaints to the DPS Commissioner, and following Security Detail’s request that Todd bring forth his concerns to the Commissioner it wasn’t a “pressure” call).
Also, Channel 11 hacked Bailey’s phone call and it sure sounded like they edited the tape (without any acknowledgement of doing so), taking his comments further out of context. PIs listen to their 10pm report and I think they need to correct and clarify that they edited his comments, if I heard that right.
The more I think about ADN’s follow-up questions to me, and having heard Channel 11′s report, the-more I’m wondering if they’re getting this wrong (and they need correcting) re: my answer to the specific question of whether I knew of any “pressuring Monegan” calls. I still don’t believe there were any – and I totally disagree with Walt’s assertion that Bailey and Krietzer and Todd and Tibbles specifically “pressured” him. And Talis’
call wasn’t pressure either.
Nizich:
PSEA generals council has sent in a letter requesting all emails and electronic communications from the Gov’s office that contain any references to PSEA, Rob Cox, John Cyr, PSEA and bargaining, members, PSEA Ads, PR campaign, PSEA negotiations.
So now we have yet another request for info that we will have to address. Just so time consuming….
Just wait a month. You have no idea.
Palin:
A foia needs to be requested, then, on other participants in this? Hollis, Cyr, Walt, etc. Why is only one side getting foia’d ?
August 19 -
Nizich – agreement with Branchflower:
We worked out a search process today that I believe should work for everyone. Basically it is as follows:
1. Branchflower does notget possession of any electronic device.
2. The agency performs the search and compiles a log of documents that are confidential.
3~ Then law reviews the remaining docs and compiles a log of docs that are privileged.
4. Branchflower gets the remaining docs and the two logs.
He indicated he has no intent to search personal e-mail accounts, but wants to use personal e-mail addresses as search terms for docs on state accounts but only if that person uses their personal e-mail address for official business.
August 20 –
Tara Jollie to Palin:
I am bothered by what I perceive as an unnecessary paranoid reaction by some people on staff to the recent attacks on you.
First of all, if one is accused of communicating inappropriately and therefore changes their behavior, they are saying to the accuser “You are right. I was wrong. I will change how I communicate.” Abandoning email practice for example. This is a whole new world that election folks and legal folks haven’t even begun to analyze. It will change our world. In fact, I believe the effects of email were very apparent in your campaign.
I, for one, refuse to let anyone take away my freedom of speech, my right to communicate to anyone, or my right to privacy. We need to stand tall, shoulders back, look critics dead in the eye, and say “I haven’t done a thing I need to apologize for.
I’m right there with you. Don’t know if you will get this message, but I hope so.
Tara Jollie was interviewed about Frank Bailey a few weeks ago here.
August 21 -
Wayne Anthony Ross:
TweetSarah: It has been a while since I’ve heard from you. You’ve come under some fire and I think you are being too nice. You were elected to drive the train. If it was me, I’d tell such attackers “I got elected to run the train and I’m running it the best that I can. I don’t think it is appropriate for me to have to justify every decision I have to make just because somebody disagrees with me, and I don’t intend to do so.”
I also believe that you have to remember your friends, of whom Frank Bailey is one. He acted with the best of intentions and he shouldn’t be hung out to dry. If I commented at all, I would have said something like “Mr. Bailey made a call without my knowledge and I don’t agree with what he tried to do. Nevertheless, he thought he was doing the right thing and I appreciate State employees who seek to do the right thing. End of statement.”
I sure dislike seeing you take flak. But I disagree with your thinking you have to kowtow to your attackers. You need to get a spokesperson who has the authority to tell those people to “pound sand” {politely of course) when these things happen. You’ve got Alaskans behind you and you need to rely on that more and be less defensive.
Just my thoughts for what they are worth.
I’ll buy you lunch when your schedule allows and we can talk further about this, if you’d like.
My best, WAR